This season, the 12 SEC schools voted to erase some of the advantage SEC Red teams have by limiting crossover games between the two divisions.

SEC teams will play each of its division opponents at least twice, with a pair of crossover games this season.

To Huron coach Josh Frost, the change makes sense for both sides to even out competition.

“Nothing against them, but they don’t have the talent pool we have, so they struggle with us,” Frost said. "It wasn’t fair for them that every game they played with Ann Arbor schools, they were getting mercied … It makes both sides more competitive.”

Lincoln players enjoy playing the top-notch Red Division teams, but coach Bob Stowe said the new system will provide better results for all teams involved.

"I like the old way of seeing everybody but we often couldn't compete," Stowe said. "There was no reason for us to be playing Skyline. I think the White side is competitive in an equal fashion ... It gives us more time to focus on those other schools."

For Dexter coach Scott Forrester, the adjustment does a disservice to his team. He said having fewer games against Red Division teams means a weaker schedule for his players and less preparation for the postseason.

“It’s challenging to keep our schedule strong,” he said. “We added Skyline and Saline as crossovers, but I don’t like it. We’re a league, but now we’re two leagues. You still have the White championship and Red championship, but with us playing everyone at least once, it was still a league. Now it doesn’t seem that way.”

Chelsea coach Shawn Hayes will miss the teaching opportunity of playing higher-talent teams, but appreciates the added importance of division games. He'll use the crossover games to face traditionally strong programs like Skyline and Saline.

In addition to division changes, Saline will be back in the Ann Arbor area district this season after a one-year hiatus.

Saline founds itself separated from its Ann Arbor peers when the district lines were drawn last season and coach Dana Restrick did not complain. To her, keeping some distance from Alec Lasinski and the state champion Skyline Eagles was comforting.

This season, Saline is back in the district with Ann Arbor’s top soccer teams.

“The biggest challenge is being in a district with Skyline, Pioneer and Huron,” she said. “This is a nightmare district for everybody involved. On your way to any post season run, you’re going to run into good teams. The team that comes out of this district will be in good shape.”